Animal trap



Aug. 23, 1932. MEADE 1,873,616

- ANIMAL TRAP I Filed Feb. 18, 1931 4 Sheets-She et 1 fimmiw.

Allomey Inventor Y 23, 1932. MEADE 1,873,616

' ANIMAL TRAP Filed Feb. 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet All Inventor Mama a A llomey Aug. 23, 1932.

A. H. MEADE 1,873,616

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Feb. 18, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 2 "'l ##Meadg A llorney A. H- MEADE -Aug. 23, 1932.

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Feb. 18, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IHHHHHHI" j 3 Inventor (/7: 5 MrEQa c A tlorney Patented Aug. 23, 1932 NT OFFER nnc'nin H, mEAnn, or LAnEDo, MONTANA ANIMAL TRAP Application filed February 18, 1931. Serial No. 516,717. r

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in animal traps, and

the primary object of the invention is to provide an animal trap which will positively en- 'sgage theanimal, when the trap is sprung, and further to provide such a trap which will so engage and entrap the animal as to provide against all possibility of the animal being able to gnaw the foot in an endeavor to escape, thus rendering the trap more hu mane than traps now in use for this purose. V

A still further object of the invention is to provide a trap which can be sprung only when the animal is so positioned as to insure a positive impaling of the animal, the base being so arranged and positioned as to render practical this particular purpose of the tra V v 29 (gther objects and advantages of the invention, and the invention itself will be best understood from'a study of the following description, taken in connection with the 'ac companying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the trap, the same being shown set.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough- V Figure 3 is a plan view of the trap, the same being shown when sprung;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevas tional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a jaw member.

Figure 6 is an elevational view thereof.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view for more clearly illustrating the manner of retaining'the trap in a set position.

With reference more in detail to the draw ings, it will be seen that my improved trap comprises a base consisting of a pair of crossed bars 5 and 6 suitably secured together at their pointof intersections to provide a somewhat cruciform base.

The trap further includes two pairs of jaws, the jaws of one pair being adapted to swing on an axis at substantially right angles to the jaws of the second pair. Each of 59 the jaws is preferably semi-circular, and the jaws 7 of one pair at their corresponding ends are pivotally connected together and toposts 8 rising from the end of bar 5 as at9.

The aws 10, of the second pair at their corresponding ends are pivotally connected to-' gether and pivotally connected to posts 11 by pivot pins 12. Posts 11 extend upwardly from the bar 6. a 1

Thus. it will be seen that the jaws of one pair are adapted to swing on a pivot disposed at substantially right angles to the pivot of the jawsof the second pair and that the jaws of each pair are adapted to swing toward and away from one another. 1

As clearly suggested in Figures 2 and 8, the jaws 7 and 10 are so arranged, that one jaw of each pair passes between the jaws of a pair tothe inner side of one jaw of the pair and the outer side of the second jaw of the pair with the result, that the jaws cooperate to retain the'jaws in the position shown in Figures ,1 and 2, that isin a set? position so that the jaws form as it were a complete circle in the center of which is arranged the means for supporting the bait.

The aws are releasably obtained in a set position or that position. suggested in Figures 1 and 2 through the medium of suitable mechanism which includes a bar 13 secured at one end to the bars 5 and 6 at the point of intersection of the bars 5 and 6 through suitable fastening means 14.. Bar 13 extends at an angle to the axis of the bars 5 and 6 and at 7 its free end terminates beyond the correspending ends of the bars 5 and6. Rising from an intermediate portion of bar 13 is a post 15 and al'ever 16 is pivoted adjacent one end to the upper end of the post as at 17.

The free end of lever 16 which terminates substantially in the center of the ring formed by the jaws 7 and 10 is provided with a plate 18, and to the plate 18 is secured a centrally located bait impaling screw 19.

Adjacent its pivoted end, lever 16] is provided with an eye for engagement with the eye of a latch 20 as at 21. The catch member 20 is adapted to engage adjacent jaws 7 and 10 and the free end of the latch for normally retaining the jaws in the position shown in Figurel, is adapted to be'engagcd 5 is susceptible to changes, modifications and with a selected one of. verticallyv spaced notches 22 provided on a vertical keeper bar 23. The keeper bar 23 at the lower end thereof is provided with a. flange bolted or otherwise secured as at 24 to the bar 13 adjacent to the free end of the bar.

When the parts are in thespositionv shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4,. it willbe apparent that the catch member 20 willbe retained in ,en-

gagement with selected'notch 22 by reason of the weight on the .free end of'l'ever'lfi provided at said end by the base impaled on the screw 19, thus releasably retaining jaws"? and 10 in a set position againstthe action.

of a plurality of expansible normally contraoted members 25. I v

- There is one-member 25 foreach=post 9 and 11, and each of the members 25-is formed from a single length of flexible metal. .bent

into a substantialU, the ends of each member '25 bemgapertnred asv at-26=for accommodatingits post 9 or l-l as :the casemaybe.

' When the jaws 7 are in their set position, or in the position shoWnin Figures 1 and 2, the said jaws will contact the ends-of the members 25 normally urging the .end of :the respective members inwardly toward one. another thuscontracting andplacing the mem-. bers 25 undertension as .suggestedin Figure 2, with. the result that upon displacement of the catch 20, the jaws '7 and 10 will be .Each of the jaws 7, 10 is providediintermediate. its ends with an impa'lin 'g. prong 27,

and the. prongs 27 are. so arranged as not .to interfere with one another, but to insure impaling. of the animal thereon.

.ltwill be seen that-a trap of. this character 7 when sprung, will cause almost immediate death of the animal. thus. obviating subject ing the animal to any unnecessary andinhuman suffering.

Engagedwith onev of the members 25 isa substantially loop shaped'member 28,..and one. end of an anchoring'chain 29 is suitably engaged with .the member 28' through the medium 'ofan eye bolt 30.

Even though I have herein shown and describedthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it'is tobe understoodthat-the -same improvements coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An animal trap comprising a base, two pairs of cooperating jaws, the jaws of each pair being connectedtogether at their opposite ends, :and the jaws; of .one pairwbeing disposed at right angles to the jaws of the other pair and intertwining therewith when the 'j'a-wsofthe-respective pairs are swung away from one another to set the trap, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on said base within the-confines of said jaws, a bait impaling member mounted on'the .free end of said lever, acatch :barmonnted onzs'aid base, and a catchimember zengagedat; one end with :the. pivoted iend of: said zlevenwnnd rat itsotherend engageable with said catch bar with .the intermediate portion at said catchmember engageable with certain of said jaws for retaining thej aws. in their last mentioned set-position. w j

n 2. An animal trap comprisinggabase,two

pairs 0t copperat-ing j aws,:ithe. :jaws. of: eachpair being-connected togetheraz'at .theiruops posite ends, and the jaws of one pair being disposed at right; anglesnto the-jawsof ithe other painandintertwining :therewith,1andengageable. with the: :jaws :of :said other 1p air for cooperation therewithv when ithe: 'j aws. of the respective pairs are swungnaway from one anotherto set. thev trap ,1'31. lever pivotal-1y mounted adjacent one end thereof on said baseawithin'zthe confines .of saidiaws,-ta;bait impaling member mountedon the treecnd of said lever-,- a catchzbar mounted on. said base,

and a catch member engagedat-one end. with the pivoted end ofsaid :lever,.and'at1its:other end engageablewithsaid catch bar, with "the intermediate portion of: saidrcatcht Jnember. engageableiawith certain of said j awsiv tor 'retaining the aws in their last menti'onedaset position, and-means engageablewviththe j aws of each pair. for normally urging the jawswof the-respectivepairs towandone another.

;In testimony. whereoflfl affix my si gnatnre.

ARCHIE :MEADE. I 

